Lever-hider for player-pianos.



c. P. REER94. LEVER HIDBB FOR PLAYER PIANO1,/

V APPLICATION IILED OCT. 5, 1910. I 1,01 1,646. v Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

G. F. REEP'Sf V LEVER HIDEB FOR PLAYER mnos. I

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 5,4150, 1,646. 7 v

2 azure-sum 2.

I I M a IA PLANDGRAPH c0 WASHINGTON D c Patented De0.12, 1911.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIC J.

CHARLES F. REEPS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CONCORD COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

LEVER-HIDER FOR PLAYER-PIANOS.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CrIARLns F. Rnnrs, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illi nois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Lever-IIiders for Player- Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to player-pianos of that kind in which the levers or similar controlling devices are arranged at the front of the keyboard.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby the said levers or other devices may be located in the key slip, and effectively hidden or concealed from view, when the player is not in use, without disfiguring the key slip, and whereby a convenient support or rest is afforded for the hands when the player is in use, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective of a front portion of the keyboard of a player-piano having a key slip provided. with a lever hider embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the said lever hider open. Fig. 3 is a cross section of the keyboard as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. a is a simi lar view showing the fall-board closed and holding the lever hider closed. Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section of the key slip and lever hider, showing the hinge for the latter, illustrating the condition of the parts when the lever hider is closed. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the lever hider open, illustrating the manner in -v.'hich the hinges thereof are extended to permit the said lever hider to serve as a hand rest.

As thus illustrated, the player-piano may have the usual keys A and the ordinary keyslip B. The said keyslip has a recess b formed in the front thereof, and in this recess are arranged the controlling levers C, D, E and F. These levers may be used in any suitable or well known manner for controlling any suitable playing mechanism or devices. The push buttons G and H, which control certain devices of the player, are also located in the recess 6 in the front of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 5, 1910.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

Serial No. 585,381.

the key-slip. The key-bed I supports the key-slip and is provided with slots and openings for the said controlling levers and push-buttons.

The lever hider J is made to fit the recess Z2 and is suitably recessed on'its inner surface to form a chamber for the said levers and push-buttons. IVhen closed the said lever hider fills the recess 6 and preserves the straight lines and general continuity of the key-slip. The said lever hider is provided on its lower edge with small recesses j in which the hinges K are received and concealed when the lever hider is closed. These hinges are each made in three parts, 70, 7c and 70 whereby each hinge has two pivotal points 70 and lo the first on the key-bed I, and the second on the lever hider. The port-ion 7c of each hinge serves, therefore, as a link between the lever hider and the front of the piano. When the lever hider is closed the recesses ,5 receive the doubled back portions is of the hinges, and the stationary portions 75, and thus the hinges are entirely concealed. See Fig. 5. hen the lever hider J is open, then the said hinges are extended to permit the lower edge of the lever hider to swing down and inward and rest against the keybed I. The member J rests in the plane of the key-bed when opened, as shown. See Fig. 6. In the latter position the lever hider serves as a hand rest.

When the usual fall-board L is closed it rests on the key-slip and keeps the lever hider closed. See Fig. 4. Thus when the player is not in use, or when the piano is being played by the keys, the controlling levers are entirely concealed. This is accomplished without exposing any hinges or similar devices, and without changing the form of the key-slip. In fact, and if the lever hider accurately fits the recess in the key-slip, it is hardly noticeable when closed.

It will be understood, of course, that I do not limit myself to any particular form of hinge or other connection for the lever hider, as other devices may be used for this purpose, and with similar results, without departing from the spirit of my invention. I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and described.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a player-piano, a key-slip having its middle portion only provided with a recess 5 hinges each have a plurality of pivotal points to carry the said member bodily outward and downward and into position to serve as a hand rest.

2. In a player-piano, a key-slip having a recess therein, controlling devices in said recess, a member movable into and out of said recess, being recessed to form a chamher for said devices, a key-bed below the key-slip, and connections between said mem her and key-bed, which connections are hinged at one end to the key-bed and at the other end to the said member, the latter having recesses that receive said connections when closed, said connections serving to carry the said member bodily outward and downward, against the outer surface of the said key-bed, and in the plane of the latter, to provide a hand rest.

3. In a player-piano, a recessed key-slip, player controlling devices in the recess thereof, which recess is in the middle portion only of the key'slip, a movable member which fits said recess when closed, to hide the said devices, and which serves as a hand rest when open, link connections between said member and the front of the piano, which connections are pivoted or hinged at each end and concealed when the member is closed and a fall-board that rests on top of said member when closed.

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, this 27th day of Sept. 1910.

CHARLES F. REEPS.

IVitnesses J. NonBY, E. H. OLEGG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

